Apollodorus Against Polycles

He told him in detail of the pay given each month to the rowers and the marines, both to the sailors whom he had himself hired at Lampsacus and to those who came on board subsequently to replace those who had deserted, and also of the additional sums which I had given to each of the old sailors at their request after the term of my trierarchy had expired, and all the rest of the money expended upon the ship from day to day. With all these matters Euctemon was thoroughly acquainted, for it was through him as pentecontarch that all purchases and disbursements were made.

He told him, too, about the ship’s equipment, that it was wholly my own, and that I had nothing from the public stores. Therefore, he said, plan to come to an agreement with him, or sail from here taking your own equipment with you. I think, however, he added, that he will readily come to terms with you; for he owes money there, which he will be glad to pay from the price of the equipment. When the defendant heard these words from Euctemon and Deinias my father-in-law, he made no answer to them regarding the matters of which they spoke but, they said, he broke into a laugh, and said, The mouse has just tasted pitch[*]( A familiar proverb of those who fall into difficulties through their own folly. See Theocritus 14.51. The second clause fits the present situation: Pasion had sought Athenian citizenship: Apollodorus is now paying the price.); for he wanted to be an Athenian.

Well, when he paid no heed to what he heard from Euctemon and Deinias, later on Pythodorus of Acharnae,[*]( Acharnae, a deme of the tribe Oeneïs.) and Apollodorus of Leuconoë, [*]( Leuconoe, a deme of the tribe Leontis.) friends and connections of mine, again approached him, and urged him to go and take over the ship, as he had been designated as my successor; and they told him about the equipment, that it was wholly my own, and that I had nothing from the public stores.

So, if you want to make use of that, they said, leave money here, and do not run the risk of carrying it abroad. For they wanted to redeem the farm for me by paying Archeneüs and Thrasylochus thirty minae. Regarding the wear and tear of the ship’s equipment they were willing to draw up an agreement with him, and themselves to be sureties for me, that he would assuredly have the terms which the other trierarchs gave to their successors.

To prove that I am speaking the truth in all this, the clerk shall read you the depositions bearing upon these matters.

The Depositions